A new Federal
law is sending explosives enthusiasts scrambling for one last blast on May 1, 2005, at Boomershoot, an annual extreme sporting event of rifle
shooting at exploding targets, held in Teakean-Cavendish, Idaho. Available to media representatives
are exclusive spectator/participator slots that include the opportunity to mix
explosives and shoot rifles, courtesy of Boomershoot.

The Safe
Explosives Act of 2002 (SEA) – included as part of the Homeland Security Act of
2002 – will impact Huffman’s renewal of his ATFE explosives license this July.
New requirements will also force his assistant explosives handlers to obtain
letters of clearance from the ATFE. Details on SEA: http://www.boomershoot.org/SafeExplosivesAct.pdf

“Media
representatives, friends, and family help me prepare explosives for my annual
event, but after Boomershoot 2005, anyone providing hands-on explosives help
will be breaking Federal law unless they’re ATFE-approved,” says Huffman.

Intended to keep explosives out of the hands of terrorists, the act “will have
no effect on terrorists – they don’t follow laws,” says Huffman. “The
so-called ‘safe’ Explosives Act turns those having good, clean, safe,
pyrotechnical fun into potential law breakers." Details on the
negative effects of SEA: http://www.boomershoot.org/SafeExplosivesActEffects.htm

Boomershoot explosives handlers after the 2005 event will be required by law to
submit a form to the ATFE. Thereafter, they will undergo a rigorous background
check, and will be added to a government database. The wait for processing
could take several months. Link to ATFE form: http://www.boomershoot.org/ExplosivesHandlerForm.pdf

“Most people don’t want to be put on a government list to participate in a
once-a-year extreme sporting event,” says Huffman. “The new law makes
explosives-handling at Boomershoot 2005 a once-in-a-lifetime event.”

Huffman, a
Senior Research Scientist for a government laboratory, started Boomershoot in
1998 to give people a safe space in which to enjoy the recreational pleasure of
guns and explosives. At the May 1st shoot, 600 reactive targets
containing over 1000 pounds of high explosives will be detonated – some of them
large enough to be heard over seven miles away, causing cars and houses to
shake two miles from the range.

Boomershoot has
maintained an A+ safety record with participants adhering to strict standards
of safe gun handling and operation. Spectators are welcome at this year’s
event; shooter positions are expected to sellout.